Interpretation of the Positive Functions of English Pragmatic Ambiguity Based on Adaptation Theory

Pragmatic ambiguity is a universal linguistic feature. It is often regarded as a negative phenomenon and its positive functions are often ignored. Based on Verschueren’s adaptation theory, this paper takes English as an example to study the positive functions of pragmatic ambiguity. This paper first introduces the theory of adaptation theory and its correlation with the positive function of pragmatic ambiguity. Then this paper concludes that the positive function of pragmatic ambiguity is the result of the speaker’s language choice in the process of language use and his adaptation to the physical world, social world and mental world. This result proves that language use is a dynamic process. In this process, language users choose language on the basis of strategy and adapt to contextual variables and linguistic structural elements.